Preschool/daycare

My daughter has gone to Joy City Community Preschool, which is housed inside of Valley Family Church of Kalamazoo, for the past two years. They have two, three and five day programs, each have different prices. Their is also different pricing depending whether or not you are a member of the church or a parent helper. I don't know the current prices off the top of my head as they may have gone up, but I think we paid $70 a month for the two day program, with me as a parent helper. Now that she is in the three day program and I am still a parent helper we pay $100 a month. It is an excellent preschool and the teachers are awesome. I didn't look at any other preschools my self, but a girlfriend of mine did and I think the prices were simillar at the ones she looked at...she ended up chosing a Christian school I believe and paid a tad more. Hope that helps, if I can think of anything else I'll add it later :)

Hello J.

A good place you can get information on what to ask a daycare/preschool is Child Care Resources. They have a web-site for parents www.workfamilysolutions.com where you can get this information.

I would look for a co-op preschool. The charge is less, but you have to volunteer a certain amount of time there a month. Or another option is, (if you know lots of other people with small kids) go in with another parent or two and hire a nanny. This is what my friend did, it works great in Michigan b/c there are so many unemployed teachers here. You can have your child watched right in your home by someone with a degree in early education. The only catch is (like I said) if you don't have anyone to go in on this with you, it could be quite pricey.

I AM A GRANDmother and the only thing I can say that I watched my grandson here in town go from daycare to preschool and it all seemed to be too highly programed for these little people. This is there time to play and I don't think that they get enough of it. My daughter was always trying to find just the right daycare or preschool and my grandson did not handle them all real well. Her first one was just a daycare and the woman who ran it was terrific and they would like to have kept him there but she had to quit doing it because her husband had Parinson's. From then on it seeme like it was nothing but trouble. He is now in school and doing well but those first years were pretty hard as both parents worked. J. N

My three children have all attended St. James Lutheran preschool on Romence Rd. in Portage and I have been very happy with the program. I think the main things you need to look for are that you are comfortable with the staff and that the children learn through play. Also, be sure to sit in on a typical day (or part of one) before you make your decision. Tuition for three year olds is about $90/mo. (check to be sure on next year's rate), which I think is pretty typical. The director is Karan Ninke and she is great with the kids. We are also members of the church and I like that our beliefs and values are being reinforced.